Oman tourism: Air Arabia to operate 3 flights a week to Sohar

Muscat: Sharjah-based low cost airline, Air Arabia will operate three flights a week to Sohar from July 9, travel agents working in the Sultanate said.
The flight G238 will depart from Sohar at 9.20 am and will land in Sharjah at 10 am on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday.
The return flight G9237 will leave Sharjah at 8 am and will arrive at Sohar airport at 8.40 am on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday. “The one way fare starts from OMR 20,” the travel agents said.
Sohar airport will become the third hub for international airlines in Oman as Air Arabia, Qatar Airways plans to start direct services to Sohar, according to Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA).
PACA said it has issued approval for Air Arabia to fly directly from Sharjah to Sohar thrice a week. “Then Doha-based Qatar Airways has also shown interest in starting international flights to the Sohar Airport soon,” PACA had said.
SalamAir
Meanwhile SalamAir, Oman’s first budget airline arrived at the Sohar airport on Wednesday, June 28 from Salalah, according to PACA.
SalamAir said they will be flying three times per week from Salalah to Sohar from June 28, while increasing services to Muscat to 31 times a week.
The return fares from Sohar are available for only OMR24 with SalamAir.
Residents of Sohar, however, welcomed the move saying that it will boost travel and trade opportunities. “We know that Muscat and Sohar route is not feasible but we believe that a lot of routes are feasible, including Sharjah from where it can be connected to many places,” Mohammed Balushi, a Sohar resident said.
He added that this will serve residents in Al Batinah North and South, Musandam, Al Dhahira and Buraimi as they have to travel a huge distance. “It will be a great help to people living in these areas as they have to cover the more than 200 kilometre distance on road whenever they want to fly,” he added.
Sohar airport was opened by Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Salim Al Futaisi, Minister of Transport and Communications, as part of 44th National Day celebrations in November 2014, and Oman Air operated an inaugural flight to mark the official opening.